Conway’s reputation continued to improve. She was now an established success with growing importance in the training of a new breed of professional merchant service officers. An annual report acknowledged, “Many of the leading ship owners of Liverpool will give a preference to the Cadets of the Institution”. 
On 4th February 1864 HM Queen Victoria acknowledged Conway’s achievements and announced her intention to grant £50 annually, to be distributed in prizes to Conway boys; and to present annually a gold medal. “Her Majesty’s wish in the establishment of this prize is to encourage the boys to acquire and maintain the qualities which will make the finest sailor. They consist of cheerful submission to superiors, self-respect and independence of character, kindness and protection to the weak, readiness to forgive offence, desire to conciliate the differences of others, and above all, fearless devotion to duty, and unflinching truthfulness.” These were high ideals, but they encapsulate what Conway strove to encourage in her cadets. They didn’t just make fine sailors, they developed exemplary men who have succeeded in every walk of life for precisely those reasons.
The royal announcement continued; “The medal will be open to boys who have been one year on board the ship, and have received not less than half the total number of marks at the previous quarterly examinations. The commander, after conferring with the head masters, shall select not less than three, nor more than five of the boys whom he considers to possess the qualities for which the prize is given. He shall then submit these names to the boys who have been assembled for the purpose in the school, and each boy who has been on board six months previously to the time of distribution shall then and there vote for one of the boys so selected. The boy who receives the highest number of votes shall receive the medal. These regulations shall be placed upon a board on the main deck, to be called the Queen’s Prize List”, and the name of each boy who receives the medal shall berecorded upon such list.” The board, a large framed black board, is now in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead Priory and it faithfully records the names of all the winners on gold lettering. The first recipient was cadet Oswald Hillkirk. Queen Victoria’s award helped shape the lives of thousands and through them to influence the lives of countless others, which was probably her intent.
The Queen also awarded a prize to the boys competing for cadetships in the Royal Navy. “The prize will consist of a binocular glass, with a suitable inscription, together with £35 towards the expense of the outfit of the boy.”
Photos of winners and ceremonies are here
* Medal presented by the monarch in person (Prince of Wales in 1931)
+ Medal winner later became Captain Superintendent.
